Tobacco

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Tobacco Cancer
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Tobacco Use And Cancer

• Tobacco use, the most preventable cause of death
  in our society, accounts for at least 30 of all
  cancer deaths.
• An estimated 45 million adults are current
  smokers in the United States.
• About half of those who continue to smoke will
  die prematurely from smoking.
• The best way to avoid getting cancer is to not
  start using tobacco or to quit using it.

3
Strength Of Evidence

• Strong evidence over the years has found a clear
  cause-and-effect relationship between the use of
  tobacco and several types of cancer.

4
Cancers Affected

• Tobacco use is the primary risk factor for lung
  cancer.

• Tobacco use is also associated withcancer in
  other parts of thebody, including
• Cervix
• Mouth
• Pharynx
• Larynx
• Esophagus
• Pancreas
• Kidney
• Bladder

5
Risk Factors

• Smoking
• Nearly 87 of all lung cancers are caused by
  smoking.
• Smokers are 15 times more likely to die of lung
  cancer than people who have never smoked.
• Secondhand Smoke
• Each year, secondhand smoke causes
• About 3,000 lung cancer deaths
• 35,000 heart disease deaths
• Respiratory illness and asthma attacks

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Risk Factors

• Cigars
• Many of the same carcinogens found in cigarettes
  are also found in cigars. Cancers caused by cigar
  smoking include
• Lung
• Oral cavity
• Larynx
• Esophagus
• Pancreas (possibly)
• Snuff
• Oral cancer occurs several times more frequently
  among users than non-users.
• Long-term snuff users may have nearly a 50-fold
  greater risk of cheek and gum cancers.

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Reducing Your Risk

• Quitting or not using tobacco substantially
  decreases the risk of cancer and cardiovascular
  disease.
• If all adults stopped tobacco use and children
  did not start, at least 30 of all cancer deaths
  would be prevented.
• People who quit, regardless of age, live longer
  than people who continue to smoke.
• Smokers who quit before the age of 50 cut their
  risk of dying in the next 15 years in half.

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How To Quit Tobacco Use

• The most effective strategies for quitting
  tobacco use involve multiple approaches
• Behavioral therapy
• Nicotine replacement therapy (gum, skin patches,
  inhaler, or spray)
• Non-nicotine prescription medication
• Group therapy
• Advice from a doctor or other health care
  provider
• Combination of therapies

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Youths And Tobacco Use

• The prevention of tobacco use among children and
  youth is equally important, since over 90 of
  smokers begin to smoke before age 18.
• If children and youth can be prevented from
  starting, a substantial portion of
  tobacco-related health problems can be solved.

10
Hope For The Future

• Researchers are looking at the role of genetics
  in tobacco-related cancers and tobacco
  dependence.
• Studies are being conducted to determine how
  cancer risk can be reducedfor smokers who
  cannotstop.
• Scientists are studying the potential for
  detecting lungcancer at its earliest, and most
  curable, stages.

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Hope For The Future

• Implementing policies that establish smoke-free
  environments is the most effective approach to
  prevent exposure and harm from secondhand smoke.
• Presently in the US, more than 2,650
  municipalities have passed smoke-free legislation
  and 28 states, the District of Columbia and
  Puerto Rico have implemented or enacted statewide
  smoking bans.

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The Bottom Line

• Stopping tobacco use, or not starting, is the
  single most important action that can be taken to
  reduce cancer in the United States.
• If all adults stopped tobacco use and children
  did not start
• Nearly one-third of all cancer deaths would be
  prevented.
• Billions of dollars would be saved.
• Millions of family members and friends would
  avoid the sickness and premature death of a loved
  one.

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Contact The American Cancer Society

• American Cancer Society programs and services are
  available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• To reach us
• Visit the American Cancer Society web site at
  www.cancer.org.
• Call toll-free, 1800ACS2345.

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Additional Resources

• National Cancer InstituteCancer Information
  Service Telephone 18004CANCER (toll
  free)Internet www.nci.nih.gov
• Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support
  Education (ALCASE)Telephone [phone]
  (toll free) or 3606991944Internet
  www.alcase.org
• American Lung AssociationTelephone
  18005864872 (toll free) or 2123158700Interne
  t www.lungusa.org

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Additional Resources

• American Heart AssociationTelephone
  1800AHA-USA1 (toll free)Internet
  www.americanheart.org
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free KidsTelephone
  2022965469Internet www.tobaccofreekids.org
• Center for Tobacco CessationTelephone
  1-202-585-3200

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